It’s been nearly three decades since Dr. Susan Lowerre-Barbieri returned from serving with the United States Peace Corps, but the experiences gained during her time in Senegal, West Africa continue to influence her research today.

Wolfgang Vogelbein, a professor at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science, has built a life on the parallels he draws between science and art—and his life-long search for the truth that lies within each discipline.

To address one of the world’s big problems—nutrient pollution and its impacts on water quality—Dr. BK Song studies some of Earth’s smallest creatures, the bacteria and fungi that help power the global nitrogen cycle.

Elizabeth Lerberg (M.S. ’05), Bethany Smith (M.S. ’08), and Stephanie Salisbury (M.S. ’12) share a determination to convey the value of science in their students’ lives and to lift the shroud of mystery that often surrounds the field.

Virginia is known as the birthplace of presidents, with a list that includes George, Thomas, and James. VIMS is now expanding that tradition with names not traditionally seen on a presidential roster: Deborah, Mary, and Linda.

VIMS alumna Carole Baldwin (Ph.D. ’92) likes fish, whether they’re in the water, a museum collection, or a fry pan. Thankfully, her job at the Smithsonian allows her to pursue all three aspects of her lifelong interest in these finny creatures.